By Fr. Robinson Parappilly, SDB
Tetere, Solomon Islands (PGS), 11 may 2022 -- More than 150 young people of Christ the King Parish Tetere, Solomon Islands, came together for three days from 6-8 May 2022, for a weekend of youthful celebrations organised by the Parish.
The celebrations included the Feast of St. Dominic Savio on May 6, the Salesian Youth Spirituality, Synodality which was the focus of the program and Vocation Sunday.
The program began with a solemn Mass of the Feast Day and was celebrated by Parish Priest Fr. Robinson Parappilly sdb. In his homily, he encouraged the young people to become saints like Dominic Savio. He urged them to embrace cheerfulness in doing their duties extra ordinarily well and added that like the young saint, they too should have a special friendship with Jesus and Mary.
Highlight of the Feast was the renewal of vows by Cleric Anthony Wale during which Fr. Robinson encouraged the young people to also be able to respond willingly to the call of God. The Alter Servers were then given a special celebration in honour of their patron.
Sessions on the Salesian Youth Spirituality were also presented by Fr. Robinson where he explained the elements of the SYS and invited the young people to embrace it and live it.
Speaking on Synodality, he explained to the youths what it meant to be a Synodal Church – participation, communion and mission, and opened up discussions on roles of young people in the Church; how to make Liturgical celebrations more relevant and meaningful in their local churches; what hinders young people from coming to Church, how to improve the role of authority and leadership in the local parish and the current social and economical threats that affect young people.
A forum followed allowing the young leaders to express their views. This allowed them to deepen their understanding of the word Synodality so that they would be able to participate fully in their parish with their peers in sharing the mission of Christ.
At the end of the discussion there was also an election for SYM executive members to lead and animate the youth for the next three years. To conclude, was a Youth Mass on Vocation Sunday where a special prayer was made for more vocations to priestly and religious life.
There were moments of prayer, interaction and energizers and the young people also had the opportunity for confession and reconciliation.
